Indigenous Services

Land ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We acknowledge that the lands on which we work are the traditional lands of Treaty One and Treaty Two, the original lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and the homeland of the Métis Nation, Treaty Four, the original lands of the Cree, Saulteaux (SO-TOE), Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis Nation, and Treaty Five, the original lands of the Cree, Dene, and Oji-Cree, and the homeland of the Red River Métis People. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation.

Indigenous Services works diligently to create and deepen the awareness of Indigenous culture and its relevance to one’s healing of identity, trauma, and reconciliation with all staff members and participants. Indigenous Services aims to uphold Turning Leaf’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, fostering an environment of Cultural Sensitivity, and supporting our First Nations participants in their journeys.

Indigenous
Services

Indigenous Services offers ongoing Cultural Sensitivity Training for staff so our team can best support our Indigenous population in their journeys. We actively create opportunities for Indigenous cultural practice for participants including: Painting Therapy, Dreamcatchers, Traditional Rattles, Drum Making, Traditional Feasts, Beading, Traditional Music and Song, Medicine Wheel Teaching, and Harvesting Natural Tobacco.

The Elder who joins us also creates space for spiritual, ceremonial, and social experiences such as Sweat Lodge and Teachings, 4 Medicines, Naming Ceremonies, Smudging Ceremonies, Sharing and Healing Circles, Solstice Celebrations, Coming of Age Ceremony, Powwows, Round Dance and more. These sacred practices were outlawed in our history, and Turning Leaf facilitates what Aboriginal participants innately deserve – space to practice their traditional ways of healing and to embrace their culture.

Elder
Services

Elder Services are available to all participants in all programs and activities are tailored to each participant’s interests and needs. The Elder who joins us also offers one-on-one teachings with participants and staff.

We are in the era of Truth and Reconciliation and the Elder who joins us recommends Indigenous People be in charge of their own spirituality. We will continue to foster and heal the relations between Indigenous people and the rest of society, and as a non-native organization, Turning Leaf demonstrates the positive relations that the original treaties were intended to be – a relationship of peace and sharing.

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